Recommendations
The following Built Environment recommendations for Dalhousie’s Accessibility Plan have emerged through an iterative needs analysis, consultation, review, and documentation process, informed by individual reports.
Policies, standards, and guidelines
1.1 Adopt Provincial Built Environment Accessibility standards. Where feasible, Facilities Management (FM) will follow CSA B651, in the interim of NS Provincial Built Environment Accessibility Standards.
1.2 Organize a study to identify areas across campus for designated quiet spaces.
1.3 Integrate the Provincial Built Environment Accessibility Standards into the FM Built Environment Accessibility Audit Tool.
1.4 Implement accessibility design and operational guidelines to guide campus development and operational procedures, including the review of Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) building features. Update documents to capture Provincial Built Environment Accessibility Standards, once released.
1.5 Update interior and exterior signage standards and Dalhousie Design Guidelines, ensuring accessible wayfinding is incorporated into the Campus Master Plan and reflects Provincial Built Environment Accessibility Standards.
1.6 Develop processes to use and document provincial alternative compliance mechanisms for renovations that are unable to meet Provincial Built Environment Accessibility Standards.
1.7 Develop a strategy for Accessibility Plan implementation and funding, including a multi-year budget and annual allocation for built environment initiatives.
1.8 Collaborate with government to develop a built environment cost assessment.
Campus Planning
1.9 Develop a process and review requirements to capture accessibility features for all projects throughout inception, design, construction, and project completion phases. If Provincial Built Environment Accessibility Standards cannot be met, then reasons should be documented following processes for alternative compliance mechanisms.
1.10 Implement a blended approach strategy to identify, prevent and remove barriers to accessibility through:
- Projects to meet accessibility design and operational guidelines where applicable;
- New projects for building exterior approach, entrance, and washroom to ensure meaningful access (consultative approach used to prioritize teaching, research, mixed teaching and research, student experience and administration); and
- New capital projects - ensure they hold a higher standard of accessibility, including RHF building features where feasible.
1.11 Prioritize renovation to ensure accessibility in residences on the Agricultural Campus (AC) This recommendation is supported in the AC Framework Campus Development Plan (Agriculture Campus Master Plan).
1.12 Increase collaboration with stakeholders when planning, designing, and implementing built environment accessibility features that intersect with university, municipal and/or federal infrastructure.
1.13 Review existing planned FM elevator upgrade projects to meet accessibility design and operational guidelines where feasible.
1.14 Review and update existing procedures and processes to identify and eliminate accessibility barriers and better support persons with (dis)Abilities in temporary building disruptions and emergency situations during:
Temporary building and weather-related disruptions (procedures for snow removal, communication regarding projects and other unplanned events with accessibility impacts); and
Evacuation procedures - including fire alarm upgrade, expansion of accessibility scope and updates to emergency evacuation signage to meet Nova Scotia Provincial Built Environment Accessibility Standards.
Documenting, reporting, and auditing
1.15 Implement a process for ongoing built environment audits to assess accessibility improvements
1.16 Develop common reporting and auditing tools, in collaboration with the Post-Secondary Accessibility Working Group (PSAWG).
1.17 Develop a response plan, portal, process, and funding plan for additional accessibility enhancements and requests.